Death crash driver who ran red light is jailed

Barrister claimed obese woman might not survive prison

The obese Ashford driver who ran a red light and killed a jogger has been jailed for twoand-a-half years.

Linda Jenns – who weighs more than 30 stone – was convicted of causing the death of Ashford man Paul Stinton, 45, by driving dangerously.

Her barrister had claimed Jenns, 49, of Richborough Way, Kingsnorth, might not survive her time behind bars.

But Judge Heather Norton told Jenns on Monday: “You were driving too fast for the wet conditions and you jumped the lights.”

Father-of-four Mr Stinton died from his injuries after Jenns’ vehicle struck him as he crossed at a pedestrian crossing.

The jury at Canterbury Crown Court heard how Jenns had been driving with her mother and nephew along Simone Weil Avenue, Ashford, last year.

I an Bridge, defending, claimed that since the conviction – when he used his client’s weight problem as part of his mitigation – Jenns had been subjected to “the modern-day equivalent of the stocks”.

Bullying

He claimed that some online reports had attracted more than 2,500 comments, “many of which were vile”.

Mr Bridge said: “It is almost as if being grossly overweight is regarded in certain parts of the Press as being the modern-day equivalent to leprosy as described in the New Testament.”

The defence barrister claimed that one of her relatives had to be taken out of school after allegations of bullying which followed the conviction.

He said that Jenns, who pleaded not guilty to causing Mr Stinton’s death by driving dangerously, was “very, very, very sorry for what happened”.

Mr Bridge suggested that Mr Stinton – whose fiancee Ulrika Wernmark sat in the public gallery – had crossed against a red pedestrian light.

But the judge rejected that, telling Jenns: “Mr Stinton’s actions did not contribute significantly to the likelihood of a collision.

“The collision came about because you drove through a red light. It is that simple.”

The judge also read victim impact statements from Amanda Stinton – the mother of the victim’s four children – and his fiancee.

Ms Wernmark said that instead of preparing for a wedding, she found herself preparing for Mr Stinton’s funeral.

After Jenns was taken away to start her sentence, the judge spoke directly to Ms Wernmark, saying she offered the court’s and her personal sympathy for his tragic death.

Unusually, Jenns had been allowed to enter the Crown Court through a side door rather than the public entrance after an application from her lawyers.

Mr Bridge had earlier pleaded with the judge not to jail the “morbidly obese” defendant because she could not cope with life behind bars.

He said she had a stroke seven years ago and at the time of the crash was receiving treatment for her weight problem.

Mr Bridge said she had lost between five and six stone and was hoping for a gastric band to be fitted, which would have increased her life expectancy quite dramatically.

He said: “As it is she is grossly overweight, morbidly obese and since the incident has put on even more weight.

“She is a person for whom a prison sentence would be extraordinarily difficult, and I don’t think I exaggerate when I say she might not get through it.”

The jury had heard evidence from a number of motorists and shoppers waiting near the Warren Retail Park in Simone Weil Avenue on a wet winter’s day in January 2014.

The prosecution said the white Ford Kuga car driven by Jenns had followed a van through the lights at speed.

Mr Stinton was flown to hospital by the Kent Air Ambulance suffering from head, chest, neck and abdominal injuries, and died three weeks later.

Mrs Jenns was also banned from driving for four years.

‘The collision came about because you drove through a red light. It is that simple’

Police and Linda Jenns at the scene of the crash in which Paul Stinton died